Following a blowout loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl, Alabama's full attention has now shifted to the Transfer Portal, which opened on Friday and will run through January 16th.
If the Rose Bowl showed us anything, it's that there exists quite a chasm between the Crimson Tide and the current upper echelon of the sport. The portal gives GM Courtney Morgan and Kalen DeBoer an opportunity to close that gap.
A few dominoes have fallen already, including one signing for the Tide. There will be more to come, and we'll keep up with all the happenings here.
Below is an up-to-date tracker on Alabama's portal departures, commitments, and positions of need with all known targets listed.
Alabama players in the Transfer Portal:
- WR Bubba Hampton - committed to Oregon State
- S Kameron Howard - committed to Boston College
- OL Roq Montgomery - committed to Western Kentucky
- RB Richard Young - committed to Colorado
- WR Jaylen Mbakwe - committed to Georgia Tech
- OL Joseph Ionata - committed to Georgia Tech
- WR Jalen Hale - committed to SMU
- OL Olaus Alinen - committed to Kentucky
- OLB Noah Carter - committed to Georgia Tech
- K Peter Notaro - committed to West Virginia
- OL Micah DeBose - committed to Vanderbilt
- WR Cole Adams - committed to Vanderbilt
- OL Wilkin Formby - committed to Texas A&M
- DE Keelon Keeley - committed to Notre Dame
- CB Cam Calhoun - committed to Ohio State
- LB Qua Russaw - committed to Ohio State
- LS David Bird
- DT James Smith - committed to Ohio State
- DL Kelby Collins - committed to South Carolina
- OL Arkel Anugwom - committed to Northwestern
- WR Isaiah Horton - committed to Texas A&M
- DL Jordan Renaud - committed to Ole Miss
Analysis: Bubba Hampton left the team before the season ever started, and both Kameron Howard and Roq Montgomery are career backups who combined to play in two games the entire season. Richard Young and Jaylen Mbakwe have disappointed relative to their recruiting rankings out of high school, and a fresh start is best for all parties involved.
Joseph Ioana and Olaus Alinen were depth pieces up front, and Ionata's portal entry could spell good news for the potential return of Parker Brailsford.
Carter is the first one that stings a bit, but Alabama is pretty deep at the Wolf LB position, particularly if both Yhonzae Pierre and Qua Russaw return, along with impressive freshman Justin Hill.
Wilkin Formby is the first starter on offense/defense to enter the portal. Formby started all 14 games between RT and RG for the Tide in 2025, but appears to be undergoing a complete offensive line overhaul.
Keeley was a role player at Bandit, and would seemingly have an increased role in 2025 with the departure of LT Overton. This one might not be over.
Qua Russaw is the biggest loss to date. He was a nine-game starter over two seasons at Alabama's Wolf LB spot. It's vital that the Tide returns Yhonzae Pierre now. He was joined the following day by an even bigger loss with his high school teammate James Smith joining him. Smith started 12 games at DT this season and won't be easy to replace.
The biggest surprise so far was Isaiah Horton's decision to enter the portal. Many expected him to go pro after one season in Tuscaloosa, but he will instead look for a new collegiate home. He's easily the most productive player to leave Alabama via the portal this offseason, and now makes Alabama uber-thin at the WR position.
Alabama targets/areas of need in the Transfer Portal:
Areas of Need: RB, WR, OL, DL, LB
Confirmed Targets:
- TE Evan Chieca (New Haven)
- TE Thatcher Miller (D-II West Chester)
- DL Javeon Campbell (Kentucky)
- OL Que McBroom (UL Monroe)
- OL Dara Adeyemi (Bucknell)
- WR Nico Brown (Yale)
This will be updated as more information becomes available.
Alabama Transfer Portal commitments:
- TE Josh Ford (Oklahoma State)
- LB Caleb Woodson (Virginia Tech)
- OL Kaden Strayhorn (Michigan)
- DL Devan Thompkins (USC)
- LS Ethan Strangle (Syracuse)
- P Adam Watford (North Alabama)
- DB Carmelo O'Neal (Mercer)
- TE Jaxon Shuttlesworth (Jacksonville State) (PWO)
- DL Kedrick Bigley-Jones (Mississippi State)
- K Lorcan Quinn (Marshall)
- OL Ty Haywood (Michigan)
- WR Noah Rogers (NC State)
- DL Caleb Smith (Washington)
- OL Racin Delgatty (Cal Poly)
- OL Nick Brooks (Texas)
- OL Ethan Fields (Ole Miss)
- DL Terrance Green (Oregon)
- EDGE Desmond Umeozulu (South Carolina)
- OL Jayvin James (Mississippi State)
Alabama made an early splash in the portal for a player who entered the portal before the rule change in Oklahoma State TE Josh Ford. Alabama needed some veteran depth at the position with senior Josh Cuevas exhausting his eligibility and other potential attrition to the room.
LB Caleb Woodson brings much-needed experience to Alabama's off-ball linebackers. He was a two-year starter at Virginia Tech.
Kaden Strayhorn is the first of what should be several additions on the offensive line. The Michigan transfer will have four years of eligibility remaining and should compete immediately for one of the starting positions on the interior of the line, most likely at center.
Alabama landed a major piece of the puzzle on the defensive line with USC's Devan Thompkins. He had a breakout year for the Trojans and figures to have versatility to play inside or outside on the Tide's DL.
Alabama watched as its top portal commitment - NC State RB Hollywood Smothers - flipped his commitment to Texas on Sunday after being committed to the Crimson Tide for a week.
Alabama added a commitment from an intriguing veteran defensive lineman out of Mississippi State, Kedrick Bigley-Jones. He's a 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive tackle who will provide some quality depth up front for the Tide.
Ty Haywood's commitment is Alabama's 2nd offensive lineman from Michigan in this portal haul. He was originally committed to the Crimson Tide in the 2025 recruiting cycle before flipping to the Wolverines. He lands with Alabama a year later anyway.
Nobody will mistake Noah Rogers for Cam Coleman, but the NC State transfer is a former elite recruit who seems like a really nice fit at WR next to Ryan Williams and Lotzeir Brooks.
Caleb Smith is more added depth to the DL; a pure upside swing on a kid originally from Birmingham.
Racin Delgatty is Alabama's third OL addition in the portal, and he has tremendous upside and experience after playing a ton of snaps at Cal Poly. He was a 2nd Team All-Conference center in 2025.
Texas OT Nick Brooks is Alabama's fourth OL addition in the portal. He started three games for the Longhorns as a freshman and will have four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Alabama's fifth portal pick up on the offensive line is Ole Miss transfer Ethan Fields, who comes to Alabama after three years with the Rebels. He saw action in 19 games in Oxford, including all 15 during the 2025 season.
Alabama added some much-needed pass rushing on the other side of Yhonzae Pierre with the addition of South Carolina transfer Desmond Umeozulu.
Alabama's sixth portal offensive lineman is experienced Mississippi State OT Jayvin James. He started 21 games between Akron (nine) and Mississippi State (12), and will bring some much-needed experience to the Tide's OL room.
More information on the Transfer Portal:
The Transfer Portal window is open from January 2nd through January 16th. Unlike recent seasons, this will be the only window. There will not be a second window in the spring.
This post will be consistently updated.